European authorities who earlier cracked down on Microsoft's browser behavior are now are keeping an eye on its upcoming Windows RT operating system -- but they aren't saying yet whether they have any objections.

In a statement, Antoine Colombani, the spokesman for European Commission's competition work, had this to say:

The commission is aware of these allegations and will remain vigilant that Microsoft fully complies with its commitments under the commission's 2009 decision on browsers. This decision applies to Microsoft's Windows operating system for PCs.

In the United States, some legal experts think Mozilla would have a hard time making an antitrust case given the differences between Windows RT and the traditional version of Windows. In particular, Windows RT is geared more for tablet devices, though the fact that Office 15 is built in indicates that Microsoft envisions them as personal computers, too. The U.S. antitrust case against Microsoft from the 1990s involved competition for operating systems for PCs using x86 chips. (At the time, Macs used PowerPC processors, though today they use Intel's x86 chips.)

If a Windows RT gadget counts as a PC because, well, it's a personal computing device, then the EC could trigger changes at Microsoft. If it's referring to a narrower definition -- machines using x86 chips, for example, or more traditional laptops and desktop using a physical keyboard and mouse -- Microsoft could be off the hook.

With Windows 8 and Windows RT, Microsoft is introducing a new user interface called Metro that also appears on its present Windows Phone 7 and 7.5 devices. Metro apps tap into the WinRT application programming interface (API). On Windows 8, running on x86 machines, though, "classic" apps can also use the older Win32 interface, which ensures that the vast catalog of Windows software available today will run on Windows 8, too.

In classic mode on Windows 8, nothing changes for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari, or other browsers.

In Metro mode, Microsoft made an exception for browser rivals on Windows 8. Initially, when using a browser with the Metro interface, only IE had access to the Win32 API. Microsoft accommodated other browsers, though, letting them use the Win32 API when running on Metro as long as they're set as the default browser.